Letters to the editor

Published: August 26, 2004 12:00 AM

Shocked by commission's decisionEditor:It has been more than two years since Father John Mueller was unceremoniously deprived of his Holy Spirit-ordained pastorate of St. Mary's Church in Wooster.The allegations of moral misconduct by Father John were made relatively recently and allegedly occurred 40 years ago. Who of us who have worked in banking, industry, or office work can honestly say that we have not done close to immoral horseplay?Since the alleged misconduct took place against a minor, have we never innocently touched or kissed a minor and under the wrong circumstances could have had that single occurrence blown out of all proportions? Do you watch "Wheel of Fortune," and not see more kissing and clutching going on?The commission set up by Bishop Pilla seemed not able to make a knowledgeable judgment, and chose to destroy the Holy Spirit-ordained priesthood of Father John.When this miscarriage of moral justice first occurred against Father John, I wrote a letter to two of the members of Bishop Pilla's "non mentis" commission. In my letter, I called them "headhunters." In the ensuing two years, I have not regretted calling them that, and would now include the whole commission.Recently I wrote a letter to Bishop Pilla, telling him of my shock and Christian sorrow over what he had done to an innocent priest of God. I am sure that if I had written the same type of letter 200 years ago to a bishop, I would have been invited to a roast me.Paul R. KauffmanCrestonAnswer to pornography questionEditor:In a letter on Aug. 18, "Beliefs are to be shared, not shoved," Holly Erb is upset by the fact that Erotica is now closed; she feels that other people's beliefs are being shoved down her throat, and she freely asks someone to explain to her how someone is killed by pornography. I have an idea for you, Ms. Erb, get on the Internet, pull up Wayne Count's sex offender list, move next door to a habitual sex offender, drop a couple pornographic magazines off to your new neighbor, wait a few days and then send your children outside to play.Hopefully, common sense would not allow you to do that. Why? Because someone could get molested, raped, or killed! You wrote in your letter, America is the "land of the free." Yes it is! And for this very reason: sex, alcohol, and drugs run rampant in our country and our prisons are full of rapists, people who murder and drug dealers.The need for people to overemphasize being "a democracy" and a land "where freedom reigns" has given criminals in our country more rights in our legal system than the actual victim. Ms. Erb stated in her letter that Wooster is "no different than any other small town in America," and it is full of "immorality, violence, and injustice abound." Hmmm.Could that be because people are so preoccupied with pushing every freedom to the extreme that they never stop to think if they should? If you truly want an answer to your question on how pornography can kill, go to a prison and ask an inmate jailed for a violent crime how pornography affected their life. Stop by a children's home and ask a sexually abused child why suicide wanders into their thoughts. Better yet, interview a family who has had a loved one raped and brutally murdered. Ask them how pornography kills.I hope Ms. Erb's next letter updates us all on how her new neighbors are working out.Lillian SmuckerSmithvilleA salute to volunteersEditor:We want to extend our sincere thanks to all the people who volunteered time, energy and talent to work in the many phases of the Creston Homecoming/Ox Roast. You are needed and your response is always tremendous. The process is begun each year knowing that you will be there to help.Kate SlaterCreston CommunityService ClubOx Roast committee